and again...

Update for the past few months...

Firstly, my new years resolution went by the way side pretty quickly...I was trying to keep more up to date with my blog and as you can see I haven't posted since November!!

I spent the 2 months before christmas cycling round the UK which was an awesome experience, though very cold. There wasn't much time for anything other than peddling, sleeping and shivering, but I did manage to get a few images from galleries, especially in mid wales which seemed filled with amazingly creative environmentally aware people.

Christmas was spent at my mums house.

Then back to a friends in london, we are still here, the departure date hasn't been finalised yet. We came up hoping to sort out our Algerian visa and spend some quality time with our 'God' children but we are now redecorating and kind of sorting out debs house, who has a great job in the city, but doesn't have much free time to do all this sort of stuff.
So far we have rearranged the front room, sold 2 spare TV's a big fridge 45kg of outgrown baby clothes, car seat, visited the tip, put up shelves painted the childrens room and put up 2 walls of shelves, painted debs room and for the next week we have to finish painting the stairs, more shelves, bathroom towel rail and sort out some more stuff for the tip....along with finding an Algerian who will offer us their name and address for visa application use!!

Every week we think it will be the last, but maybe next week everything on the list will be finished and after a few days off we'll resaddle the bikes and head off into the sunrise.

The plans for this year are huge, we'll be setting off to cycle through Europe and then Africa, down the West which seems to be less travelled and filled with interesting music festivals, communitys and really great textile traditions. All of which we want to get involved with.

Photos to follow..

To live!

To live!, originally uploaded by Stephen >.

This is my new favorite little lady.
I had a mini discussion with the Photographer about why/how he thought she could be so happy behind the glass......

I hope you like her.

Polaroid Paradise

I bought myself some polaroid film a few months ago in anticipation of the SX-70 I was going to buy...the camera never did materialise, but I was given an awesomely clunky polariod camera from about the 1980's which I am currently carrying with me on a bike tour, It is my one concession to weight and I will not be parted from it.
The first picture I took and I was hooked, but because of the cost of film I'm having to ration myself with how and when I use it. The image posted are 2 shots I took on Dartmoor when the weather was atrocious, it was so cold I couldn't feel my hands, but the sky was amazing.
I hope you like them, and I hope my understanding of the camera and film improve the more I use them...That is until it is no longer produced...boo hoo

Who is Zang Huan?

I've just recently come across an artist called Zang Huan. I really know nothing about him save a few images and a quick look at his website.
What caught my eye was a series of very arresting images from some of his video work.
What do you think?

Visit my ETSY

Seeing my friend Vic's comment about her new etsy shop, reminded me I still hadn't finished making mine, so I would also like to invite you to visit my etsy here.

just googling myself

I've just had a look at my new pages on the southwest crafts website and this made me wonder what I would find if I googled myself.
It took till page 3 to find this site, and all sorts of random stuff came up before. I think it's about time I figure out all these tags and things that are needed to up my position in search engines.
I did come across this though. I'd almost forgotten I had been a part of it. The 4-way portfolio print exchange in early 2007. A collection of works by printmakers from Norway, Lithuania, Scotland and England.

Freddies House

I have stayed at a friends house a few nights these last few weeks. Freddie has been amazingly generous offering up a bed in her beautifully renovated Farm House virtually in Penzance.

It made me realise a few things.
1. I LOVE south Cornwall
2. I want a house with land and studio space
3. Freddie has GREAT taste in art

I walked into her living room on that first night and was confronted by the most amazing big painting that I'd seen a few weeks before at the University College Falmouth Summer Show. My desire to own this painting was only suppressed because I knew I would be going away, and the fact that it was already sold!!
I am so glad it went to a good home. Here is a picture of the painting...

http://www.craigdixon.org